Today's weather for Vancouver, Canada23rd Nov 2009 02:00

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Weather Overview for Vancouver

Vancouver has a temperate maritime climate. It sees four distinct seasons and no extremes of temperature. British Columbia’s capital city lies upon the Fraser River, with the Coast Mountains at its rear and the Strait of Georgia meeting the shore.

The conditions in Vancouver are dissimilar to the conditions anywhere else in Canada. Vancouver’s weather is unusually temperate for its longitude, particular by Canadian standards. The city sees the 4^th warmest winters of any city in Canada, with the first 3 cities on nearby Vancouver Island.

Summers in Vancouver are pleasant, with moderate temperatures which are tempered by sea breezes and clear, sunny skies. The average high temperature is normally about 22°C throughout July and August, though the mercury can top 27°C and has actually exceeded 30°C on a few occasions. June and September are also very warm with average high temperatures hovering just below 20°C. Throughout the season night times cool off considerably and you may need an extra layer or so.

Sunshine levels peak in July at nine hours per day; early summer is generally very bright but in September it is a little more frequently overcast, averaging at six hours of sunshine per day.

The sea stays cool, peaking at 14°C in July and August. Cooling breezes often sweep in off the bay.

The summer months are relatively dry; June sees moderate levels of rainfall and the annual low is seen in July. It then creeps up in August and jumps to high levels, 147 mm, in September. Rain is infrequent but heavy.

Autumn, from the end of September till mid November, is mild and wet. The average high temperature quickly falls to the low teens and gets down to 9°C in November. Night time temperatures are very chilly and in November it can fall below freezing. Sunshine levels are not abysmal for autumn but it does rain a lot. On average, rainfall is seen on sixteen days in October and twenty in November.

Winter is cold and wet. From December till February the average high hovers around 6°C and the average low sits around freezing. January is the coldest month but December and February are only slightly warmer. Twice a year the thermometer will see temperatures below -10°C. This is pretty good for Canada; the city’s proximity to water means major temperature extremes are often avoided.

Snow, on average, falls on eleven days - very low for Canada which is known for its long, white winters. At higher elevations snow settles every year while at sea level only a sprinkling is usually seen. However, due to its coastal location a cold snap can bring incredibly high snowfall in a short period as moist air from the warmer sea is blown over the cold city.

Rain is more likely than snow; this is the wettest season in Vancouver; December and January see over 200mm of rain each falling on around twenty days in each month. February is quite a bit drier and slightly sunnier.

Located a very short drive from the city centre, and accessible by a lift that departs from town, is Grouse Mountain:  an inner city ski resort. While Vancouver is nearby to the world famous and extremely popular ski resort of  Whistler, Blackcomb, Grouse mountain enables after work and weekend skiing! If visiting Grouse Mountain in the afternoon you fill find school kids who have jumped straight off the school bus from their inner city schools and headed straight to the slopes.

Spring is similar to autumn with mild day time temperatures, cool nights and plenty of rain. Sunshine levels increase rapidly but you won’t find yourself in a t-shirt. Rainfall does decrease but it still falls frequently.

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